Adjusting mechanisms for wrenches

ABSTRACT

An adjusting mechanism for a wrench having a stationary jaw and a slidable, movable jaw. A plurality of inclined notches are recessed preferably into the surface of the stationary jaw over which the movable jaw slides. A roller is positioned in each notch and a slider is positioned in a chamber which connects the notches to move the rollers along the inclined notches. Spring means are utilized between the rollers and the slider and between the slider and the stationary jaw member. Locking is achieved through the wedging action of the rollers between the inclined surfaces and the movable jaw.

Uted States Patent 11 1 1 1 3,744,351 Myers July 10, 1973 ADJUSTING MECHANISMS FOR WRENCHES Primary Exarnirwrjan1cs L. Jones, Jr.

I Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith [75] Inventor. Herman A. Myers, Lake Lynn, Pa. Atwmey RusSe D Orkin [73] Assignee: lnsta-Snap Corp., Monongahela, Pa.

[22] F1led: Aug. 30, 1971 ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 175,966

An adjusting mechanism for a wrench having a stationary jaw and a slidable, movable jaw. A plurality of in- [52] [1.8. Cl. 81/129 dined notches are recessed preferably i the Surface [51] lift. Cl B25) 13/12, 825i) 13/24 of the Stationary j over which the movabie j Slides [58] Field Of Search 8 l/l29, 150, 151, A roller is positioned in aach notch and a Slider is POSL 81/153 142445 tioned in a chamber which connects the notches to move the rollers along the inclined notches. Spring [56] References cued means are utilized between the rollers and the slider U ED STA PATENTS and between the slider and the stationary jaw member. 591,118 10/1897 Horr 81/153 Locking is achieved through the wedging action of the 2,948,175 8/1960 Bonkowski rollers between the inclined surfaces and the movable 2,719,443 10 1955 Bugge 81/145 jaw FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9 Cl 5 D F 538,266 3 1922 France 81/153 rawmg Patented July 10, 1973 3,744,351

45 Fig-4 45 38 39 43 39 43 nvvavron y 5 Herman A. Myers 8) W W W HIS ATTORNEYS ADJUSTING MECHANISMS FOR WRENCI-IES My invention relates to adjusting mechanisms and, more particularly, to adjusting mechanisms for wrenches having a stationary jaw member and a movable jaw slidably connected thereto.

In my US. Pat. Nos. 3,625,096 and 3,636,800, I have disclosed various constructions for wrench-like tools in which a movable jaw cooperates with a stationary jaw. I have now found an improved adjusting mechanism which is readily adaptable to these and various other types of wrenches.

The underlying principle of a traveling jaw being locked in place by the gripping or clutching action of a roller upon the shank of a stationary jaw is already known in the art. However, the application of this principle has not produced a marketable item because of the cumbersome nature and inoperable manner in which the principle has been embodied into the various wrenches.

My invention overcomes the piror art drawbacks by inserting the adjusting mechanism preferably into the stationary jaw member. In addition, by providing a plurality of inclined notches and rollers, I increase the effective frictional contact area over that employed in the prior art. In addition, I provide a novel adjusting means for the rollers which permits instant adjustment through a movement of a fraction of an inch and less. All of these advantages occur with a minimization of movable parts and through a mechanism which is amenable to simplified manufacturing techniques.

My invention is an adjusting mechanism in which a plurality of inclined notches are recessed into a surface of a stationary jaw over which a movable jaw slides. A roller is positioned in each notch and a slider is positioned in a chamber which connects each notch. The movable jaw is rendered immovable by the wedging action of the rollers between the inclined notches and the movable jaw and is rendered adjustable when the slider is depressed to force the rollers down the inclined notches and out of wedging relationship. A series of spring means are employed to facilitate the action of the slider.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my presently preferred embodiment in which:

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of my adjustment embodied in a wrench similar to a standard crescent-type wrench;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along section lines IIII of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the adjusting mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along section lines IV-IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along section lines V-V of FIG. 3.

For ease in presentation, I have illustrated my disclosure as being embodied in a crescent-type wrench, although as set forth hereinbefore, my disclosure is equally applicable to a variety of other types of wrenches which employ a traveling jaw which slides over a shank or other portion of a stationary jaw.

In general, a crescent-type wrench has a rigid handle which terminates in a rigid jaw 11 having an elongated end portion 12 which extends normal to the rigid jaw 11, FIG. 1. Handle 10 will normally have an opening 17 therethrough at one end for storage purposes. A slot 13 extends into the elongated end portion 12 and terminates into enlarged channel 14, FIG. 2. Both the slot 13 and the channel 14 extend the length of end portion 12. The channel 14 is of greater width than slot 13, thereby forming a shoulder 15 at their juncture.

Movable jaw 18 is slidably mounted within the channel 14, FIGS. 1 and 2. The movable jaw 18 has a gripping portion 19 which engages the particular fastening means. The movable jaw 18 also has an extended rail portion 20 which communicates with the gripping portion 19 through web 16 of lesser thickness than rail portion 20. The bottom of rail portion 20 is an elongated surface 21 which extends the length thereof. The rail portion 20 is retained within the channel 14 by shoulder 15 acting upon the upper surface of rail 20. A small stop, not shown, is attached to the bottom of rail portion 20 to contact a solid portion of elongated end portion 12 when the movable jaw 18 is in its most open position to prevent movable jaw 18 from completely sliding out of channel 14.

The adjusting mechanism, generally designated 30, is positioned within the elongated end portion 12 of the rigid jaw 11, FIGS. 1 and 4. Specifically, three notches 31 are recessed into the rearward surface 32 which defines channel 14. These notches 31, which are defined by surface 34, are inclined at an angle of approximately 30. A roller 33 is positioned in each notch 31 for movement up and down the inclined surface 34. The roller 33 is dimensioned to extend slightly outward from each notch 31 when the adjusting mechanism 30 is in a wrench turning position, as will be discussed further hereinafter.

A continuous blind chamber 35 open at one end extends into the elongated end portion 12 in parallel relationship to the rearward surface 32 of channel 14, FIG. 3. The continuous blind chamber 35 connects each of the notches 31 and terminates blindly at surface 36 internal of the elongated end portion 12.

A slider 38 is positioned in chamber 35. Slider 38 has three grooves 39 which extend across the width thereof and which are spaced at the same interval as the notches 31, FIGS. 4 and 5. Each groove 39 is defined in part by a forward contacting surface 40 which contacts the rollers 33. In addition, each contacting surface 40 terminates in an inwardly extending lip 41 which assists in controlling the movement of roller 33. The end surface 42 of each groove 39 is angularly disposed and contains a slight recess 43 intermittently spaced be tween the ends of surface 42. Slider 38 includes an extension 44 which extends external of the elongated end portion 12 and which is finger operated into an adjusting position, FIGS. 1 and 3.

A compression spring 45 is positioned in each recess 43 of surface 42 and contacts the roller 33 to urge the roller 33 up the inclined surface 34 of notch 31. A coil spring 46 is positioned between the surface 36 of chamber 35 and the end of the slider 38 to urge the slider 38 outward.

The operation of -my adjusting mechanism is as follows. The coil spring 46 which urges the slider 38 outward and the three compression springs 45 which urge the rollers 33 up the inclined surface 34 of notches 31 have the effect of maintaining a small portion of the rollers 33 outside of the notches 31. When the rollers are in this forward or wrench turning position, as just described, the rollers engage the bottom surface 21 of rail 20 of the movable jaw 18. In this position, the movable jaw 18 is rendered immovable in the direction of the wrench turning by the wedging action of each roller 33 between the bottom surface 21 and the inclined surface 34 of each notch 31.

To release this wedging action to permit instantaneous adjustment, one merely depresses the extension 44 of slider 38 inward so that the contacting surface 40 of each groove 39 forces each roller 33 down the inclined surface 34 and out of wedging relationship with the movable jaw 18. This movement is very slight and a few thousanths of an inch is sufficient to disengage the rollers from the wedging relationship.

I claim:

1. An adjusting mechanism for a wrench having two slidably cooperating jaws comprising:

A. a plurality of spaced and similarly inclined notches recessed into a surface of a first jaw which slidably cooperates with a second jaw;

B. a roller movably positioned in each notch, said roller dimensioned to extend slightly outward from said notch when the roller is in a wrench turning position;

C. a continuous blind chamber open at one end and connecting said notches;

D. a slider positioned in said chamber and having a contacting surface to engage each roller; and

E. first spring means positioned at the blind end of said chamber to urge said slider outward;

whereby in the wrench turning position the rollers are wedged between the inclined notches and the second jaw rendering the jaws immovable with respect to each other in the direction of wrench turning and in an adjusting position the slider urges the rollers down the inclined notches to remove the wedging relationship and permit said sliding cooperation.

2. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the jaws include a stationary jaw and a movable jaw and the notches are recessed in the stationary jaw so that the rollers assume a wedging relationship between the notches and the movable jaw.

3. The adjusting mechanism of Claim 2 wherein the notches are inclined at an angle of approximately 30 from the surface of the stationary jaw over which the movable jaw slides.

4. The adjusting mechanism of claim 2 wherein the slider includes a plurality of grooves equivalently spaced with the notches, each groove defined in part by a forward contacting surface to engage each roller.

5. The adjusting mechanism of claim 4 wherein a second spring'means is positioned between each roller and the slider to urge said roller into the wrench turning position.

6. The adjusting mechanism of claim 5 wherein the forward contacting surface terminates in an inwardly curved lip to accommodate the curvature of the roller.

7. The adjusting mechanism of claim 5 wherein each groove includes an inclined end surface having an intermediately positioned recess therein to accommodate the second spring means.

8. In a wrench having a rigid handle terminating in an elongated end portion and a rigid jaw portion substantially normal thereto and a movable jaw having a rail portion slidably positioned is a channel recessed into the elongated end portion, the improvement comprising an adjusting mechanism having;

A. a plurality of spaced and similarly inclined notches recessed into a surface of the channel of the stationary jaw over which the rail portion of the movable jaw slides;

B. a roller movably positioned in each notch, said roller dimensioned to extend slightly outward from said notch when the roller is in a wrench turning position;

C. a continuous blind chamber open at one end and connecting said notches;

D. a slider positioned in said chamber and having a contacting surface to engage each roller;

E. first spring means positioned at the blind end of said chamber to urge said slider outward; and

F. second spring means positioned between each roller and the slider to urge said roller into the wrench turning position;

whereby in the wrench turning position the rollers are wedged between the inclined notches and the rail portion of the movable jaw rendering the movable jaw immovable in the direction of wrench turning and in an adjusting position the slider urges the rollers down the inclined notches to remove the wedging relationship and permit sliding of the movable jaw.

9. The adjusting mechanism of claim 8 wherein the slider includes a plurality of grooves equivalently spaced with the notches, each groove defined in part by a forward contacting surface to engage each roller and an inclined end surface having an intermediately positioned recess therein to accommodate the second spring means. 

1. An adjusting mechanism for a wrench having two slidably cooperating jaws comprising: A. a plurality of spaced and similarly inclined notches recessed into a surface of a first jaw which slidably cooperates with a second jaw; B. a roller movably positioned in each notch, said roller dimensioned to extend slightly outward from said notch when the roller is in a wrench turning position; C. a continuous blind chamber open at one end and connecting said notches; D. a slider positioned in said chamber and having a contacting surface to engage each roller; and E. first spring means positioned at the blind end of said chamber to urge said slider outward; whereby in the wrench turning position the rollers are wedged between the inclined notches and the second jaw rendering the jaws immovable with respect to each other in the direction of wrench turning and in an adjusting position the slider urges the rollers down the inclined notches to remove the wedging relationship and permit said sliding cooperation.
 2. The adjusting mechanism of claim 1 wherein the jaws include a stationary jaw and a movable jaw and the notches are recessed in the stationary jaw so that the rollers assume a wedging relationship between the notches and the movable jaw.
 3. The adjusting mechanism of Claim 2 wherein the notches are inclined at an angle of approximately 30* from the surface of the stationary jaw over which the movable jaw slides.
 4. The adjusting mechanism of claim 2 wherein the slider includes a plurality of grooves equivalently spaced with the notches, each groove defined in part by a forward contacting surface to engage each roller.
 5. The adjusting mechanism of claim 4 wherein a second spring means is positioned between each roller and the slider to urge said roller into the wrench turning position.
 6. The adjusting mechanism of claim 5 wherein the forward contacting surface terminates in an inwardly curved lip to accommodate the curvature of the roller.
 7. The adjusting mechanism of claim 5 wherein each groove includes an inclined end surface having an intermediately positioned recess therein to accommodate the second spring means.
 8. In a wrench having a rigid handle terminating in an elongated end portion and a rigid jaw portion substantially normal thereto and a movable jaw having a rail portion slidably positioned is a channel recessed into the elongated end portion, the improvement comprising an adjusting mechanism having; A. a plurality of spaced and similarly inclined notches recessed into a surface of the channel of the stationary jaw over which the rail portion of the movable jaw slides; B. a roller movably positioned in each notch, said roller dimensioned to extend slightly outward from said notch when the roller is in a wrench turning position; C. a continuous blind chamber open at one end and connecting said notches; D. a slider positioned in said chamber and having a contacting surface to engage each roller; E. first spring means positioned at the blind end of said chamber to urge said slider outward; and F. second spring means positioned between each roller and the slider to urge said roller into the wrench turning position; whereby in the wrench turning position the rollers are wedged between the inclined notches and the rail portion of the movable jaw rendering the movable jaw immovable in the direction of wrench turning and in an adjusting position the slider urges the rollers down the inclined notches to remove the wedging relationship and permit sliding of tHe movable jaw.
 9. The adjusting mechanism of claim 8 wherein the slider includes a plurality of grooves equivalently spaced with the notches, each groove defined in part by a forward contacting surface to engage each roller and an inclined end surface having an intermediately positioned recess therein to accommodate the second spring means. 